Outline

Overview

This unit aims to introduce the central concepts of systems thinking. Topics covered include micro-foundations of aggregate patterns, tools for systems modelling, scenario-based decision-making, network analysis and design thinking, data sources and new technologies to inform systems-orientated approaches. This unit provides students with an opportunity to use the systems approach to discover new ways of conceptualising complex enterprise problems and identifying innovative solutions to address complex, multi-dimensional and multi-scale issues.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Management Education
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	FMBA5001
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Fabian Held, fabian.held@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Reflection Written assessment	40%	Formal exam period	800 words
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Weekly reflections Written task	20%	Multiple weeks	3 x 500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Casual loop diagrams Written assessment	5%	Week 03	1 diagram, 300 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Describe an intervention Video presentation	30%	Week 08	5 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Collaboration process document Written assessment	5%	Week 08	4 pages
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Weekly reflections: This assessment consists of participation in online discussion throughout the semester, in parallel to the lectures. Every week there will be a discussion topic relating previously introduced concepts to each team’s complex issue. Students will discuss each topic in its own discussion thread on Canvas.
Causal loop diagrams: After reading Morecroft (2007, Ch. 2), students will explore the obesity system map and then complete a series of tasks, including the development of a causal loop diagram.
Describe an intervention: In interdisciplinary groups, students will analyse current trends and dynamics in the Australian health sector and identify potential opportunities for private sector investment. Students will present recommendations in a short video, supplemented by a written appendix that maps key causal drivers, business environment and financial appraisal.
Collaboration process document: This assignment consists of two documents that summarise the development of the team
assignment. Students will prepare a team charter that outlines the groups’ approach and a submit their ‘meeting minutes’ to document regular meetings concisely.
Reflection: In this assignment you will evaluate your own role and your team’s processes and dynamics during your development of your systems intervention. Building on relevant examples from your teamwork experience, analyse the ways of working with each other, including emergent norms, sources and flows of information, collaboration, joint learning and feedback. Applying suitable frameworks from the unit, you will critically reflect on your own role in the team and identify practical improvements for future team work project.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	1. Introduction 2. Examples of complex systems approaches	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 02	1. Emergence and self-organisation; 2. Introduction to agent-based modelling	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 03	Feedback systems thinking: Causal loop diagrams	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 04	1. Systems dynamics; 2. Computer simulation and experiments	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 05	1. Design and its consequences; 2. Behavioural economics	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 06	1. Social networks; 2. Teams as systems	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 07	Applications of Systems thinking; Project Workshops	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 07	Applications of Systems Thinking; Project workshops	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 08	Applications of Systems Thinking; Project Workshops	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 08	Project videos on complex systems interventions	Workshop (4 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings and attendance: Note that MBA classes held at the CBD Campus are not systematically recorded and 100% class attendance is expected for each unit of the MBA Program. If there are extenuating circumstances as to why you are not able to attend a particular class, please contact your unit coordinator as soon as possible, and also notify your group members (if the unit has a group work component). A unit requirement is 80% attendance, and those who drop below this level may not pass the unit.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate a multi-level perspective to complex issues
LO2. understand key concepts of complex systems theory and their relevance in addressing complex problems
LO3. use suitable tools to understand health and related social and economic systems
LO4. integrate the expertise of multidisciplinary teams to identify novel solutions
LO5. apply theoretical concepts of complex systems thinking to a range of practical challenges.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

Business School Policies

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

FMBA5004: Nature of Systems

Intensive October - November, 2020 [Block mode] - Castlereagh St, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect